Caroline murder suspect is extradited to France
The man accused of murdering British schoolgirl Caroline Dickinson was tonight being extradited to France to face trial.
Francisco Arce Montez was handed over to American federal marshals in Miami after local prosecutors freed him on unrelated state charges, clearing the way for him to be flown to France.
Caroline's father John, of Bodmin, Cornwall, said tonight that he was aware of the latest developments, but added: "The family do not feel it appropriate to make any comment while legal proceedings are pending in France."
The spokesman said Montez had appeared in handcuffs at Florida State Court in Miami in front of Judge David Young, on charges of burglary and committing lewd behaviour.
He was told by prosecutors that he could accept a plea bargain deal, where he would be freed from local prison if he pleaded guilty to the charges, which were brought after he was arrested in the Miami Beach area in March.
But Montez refused and prosecutors then moved to reduce the bail, setting him free from local custody.
"We basically took our handcuffs off him and the federal marshals put theirs on," said the spokesman.
The marshals had a State Department arrest warrant and immediately took him into custody to await being handed over to French authorities, who were waiting in Miami.
Montez was expected to be put on a flight from Miami to Paris at 5.45pm local time (10.45pm UK time), arriving in Paris tomorrow morning.
The charges in Florida remain open and if Montez becomes a free man, authorities in Miami would consider whether to seek his extradition, the spokesman said.
The State Department warrant was only issued after the FBI had confirmed that Montez is not a suspect in any other crimes in America.
"His DNA and modus operandi were checked before the warrant was issued," said the spokesman.
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